Meet The Team

SIMON JONES 

Simon is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and Principal of the firm. After spending a number of years in one of the 'big 6' accounting firms in Melbourne he established Simon Jones & Co in 1994 with a view to providing the same level of service and quality advice to small business owners in regions including  Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Simon takes great pride in delivering ongoing personalised service and is genuinely interested in helping his clients succeed. Simon has observed, “Clients come to us looking for solutions to their tax, management accounting, succession planning and cashflow problems and we speak a language our clients understand. We aim to help business owners understand their numbers, improve their results and help them spend more time working ON their business rather than working IN their business”.

Simon is particularly passionate about business start ups and has literally mentored hundreds of clients through the process. He says, “Starting a business is like a game of chess and to succeed you need to make the right opening moves. I think one of the secrets is to ‘start with the end in mind’ and make sure clients have the right business structure, adequate insurance coverage and use the right accounting software that matches their business needs with their level of bookkeeping skills. Assisting clients in the vital early stages of start up with the most appropriate business structure, asset protection strategy and bookkeeping program can avoid difficulties later. It can also reduce the cost of compliance which is part of our client brief".

Simon's ability to put himself ‘in his client’s shoes’ has ensured successful outcomes for a number of his small business clients, some of whom have been clients for close to two decades. He says his personal goal is “to make sure that clients feel that we care about their goals, both financial and personal, not just that we helped them save some tax”. His broad portfolio of clients stretch across a wide range of industries and he attributes the success of the firm to their ability to recruit and retain quality staff. Simon says, “We invest in our people so our clients have access to technically sound advice from professional people who care about their success”.

Simon’s objective with his clients is to solve their tax and financial problems, help them to capitalise on opportunities and ensure they avoid the pitfalls through the life cycle of their business. “Our team goal is to be very knowledgeable about our clients’ businesses,” he says. “We want to understand their business and their specific industry issues. This helps us develop strategies and select the right tools to help them with financial reporting, tax planning, wealth creation and other business issues.”

Simon’s specialist technical skills include tax planning, business structures, consulting, business valuations and business planning. He is passionate about the success of his clients and specialises in succession planning, asset protection, cash flow management and business analysis. His 20 years experience in public accounting has  given Simon a deep understanding of the compliance and taxation needs of clients in the small business sector.

Professional Qualifications & Memberships

·  Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
·  Financial Planner - Authorised Representative of Financial Wisdom
·  Public Practice Certificate
·  Registered Tax Agent
·  Member of the CPA Australia (CPA)
·  Member the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)

Outside the office Simon can be found road cycling with his mates in the early hours of the weekend and relaxing at the movies or going out with his wife of over twenty five years and running after their three teenage daughters.

ASHLEY WHITTLE

Accountant

Ashley Whittle joined Simon Jones & Co in June 2002 after he received his Bachelor of Commerce degree at Deakin University. With over 20 years experience in taxation and general accounting services, Ashley provides advice in all aspects of business including:

• Taxation
• GST
• Capital Gains Tax
• Business Structuring
• Self-Managed Superannuation

He has gained considerable experience over a vast range of areas including:

• Preparing and reviewing Income Tax Returns and Financial Statements for Individuals, Companies, Partnerships, Trusts and Superannuation Funds
• Preparation of Business Activity Statements
• Advising clients on effective Tax Planning Strategies
• Business Structures for Small Business and Investments
• Capital Gains Tax planning and accessing Small Business Concessions
• Cashflow Budgeting

Ashley offers advice and support to his clients across a broad range of businesses and industries including:

• Medical Practices
• Primary Production
• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Retail Trade

Ashley is a member of CPA Australia and is a registered Tax Agent.

KAI LU

Accountant

Kai joined Simon Jones & Co in 2013 and brings over 12 years of experience in Income Tax, Tax Advisory, Financial Accounting, and Deceased Estates.

Kai specializes in helping businesses streamline their financial processes, optimize tax strategies, and achieve long-term growth. Her expertise spans a range of industries, including construction, the motor vehicle industry, medical, child care, IT, and engineering consultancy.

Kai combines technical expertise with a practical, client-focused approach to deliver tailored financial solutions. Outside of work, she adores her black Labrador and could talk about her dog all day. Kai also enjoys staying active, going to brunch with friends, and getting lost in a good book.

LACHLAN SPITERI

Accountant

Lachlan joined Simon Jones & Co in 2017, after graduating from Swinburne University of Technology in 2016, completing a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), majoring in Accounting.

In his current role as an accountant and business advisor, Lachlan specializes in Taxation for businesses and individuals, small business restructures, and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).

Lachlan also has multiple years of experience in assisting clients with Business Activity Statement (BAS) lodgement, assisting with bookkeeping and client payroll, as well as providing tax planning advice to assist with minimizing tax payable for current and future tax years.

In his spare time, Lachlan plays soccer for West Point Soccer Club based in Point Cook, and enjoys being outdoors with activities such as running, hiking, and attending local sporting matches.

Lachlan received his CPA accreditation after completing the CPA program in 2024.

FANG CAO

Accountant

Cuifang Cao, known as Fang Cao, holds a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Western Australia and has been a member of CPA Australia for over 10 years.

Fang provides comprehensive advice on taxation, GST, capital gains tax, and business structuring. Fang has extensive experience in preparing and reviewing tax returns and financial statements for individuals, companies, trusts, partnerships, and self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

Fang also supports clients with BAS preparation, tax planning strategies, CGT concessions, and cashflow budgeting.

Fang is a valued member of the SJC SMSF team, assisting clients with all aspects of their self-managed superannuation needs.

ALISON GARIMORT

Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) - Senior Manager

Alison  has been with Simon Jones & Co for over 20 years.  She is a Chartered Accountant, who after many years of experience in taxation and general accounting services, now specializes in accounting for  SMSFs.   Alison has spent over 15 years in this field and  with her wide experience is the Senior SMSF Manager for our SMSF Team.

This team is able to provide trustees with advice and support in all areas of SMSFs.  From setups and compliance advice; audit liaison with external auditor Sharif Eldebs, Assured Super; to full accounting services, reporting and taxation services. 

Alison’s attention to her clients, her knowledge and professionalism is greatly appreciated by her SMSF clients.   

MADDIE PEPPAS

Bookkeeper

Maddie joined Simon Jones & Co in July 2014. She is a qualified bookkeeper, holding a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping. Maddie enjoys working closely with her clients as an in-house bookkeeping specialist; this involves assisting with day-to-day tasks, such as invoicing and payroll, as well as setting up accounting software and preparing activity statements.

Maddie works remotely from Sydney and loves the work-life balance that SJC offers. In her spare time, she enjoys hosting dinner parties with friends, relaxing down at the beach and planning her next overseas adventure. Maddie is passionate about people and works part time to allow her to volunteer on her days off.